Research Committee

(Strategy committee of Senate)

• Membership
• Minutes
• Further Information

Standing Orders (approved by Senate 9 October 2012)

These Standing Orders should be read in conjunction with the General Committee section of Standing Orders available on the University’s website.

Membership

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) (Chair)
The Dean of Knowledge Exchange and Impact (Deputy Chair)
The Dean of Postgraduate and Undergraduate Education
The Dean of Research (REF) (time-limited post for the duration of REF 2014) 
Three Deputy Heads of Faculty (Research) (with Faculty Research Committee Deputies acting as alternates in the case that the relevant Chair cannot be present)
The Colleges Deputy Head (Research)
Director of the Research Office
An Early Career Researcher
Director of a University Research Institute
Postdoctoral Researcher
Durham Students' Union Postgraduate research student representative

Secretariat

The Secretary to be appointed by the Registrar in consultation with the Chair.

Meetings

The Committee shall normally meet six times a year.

Terms of Reference

The Research Committee has oversight of all aspects of the Research strand of the University Strategy 2010-2020. The Committee shall:

a) develop and recommend to UEC, Senate and Council, policy and sub-strategies in support of the University’s Strategy 2010-2020 to deliver internationally excellent research with global impact; more specifically, to support maximising outputs and impact and the winning of funding to support our research;

b) monitor and report on progress with implementation of agreed policies, strategies and sub-strategies;

c) acquire and maintain an institutional knowledge of our research strengths and of the external research landscape;

d) oversee and manage the University’s submission to the REF or similar national exercises;

e) oversee University facilities and infrastructure (lecture theatres, laboratories etc) for research to continually enhance research excellence (to facilitate, the Chair – PVC Research - will be a member of the Capital Planning Group);

f) monitor the implementation of research strategy and performance through Faculty and Departmental research committees, identifying and recommending good practice in managing, promoting and resourcing research;

g) ensure that the University’s support mechanisms for research, research partnerships, impact (both in the specific REF sense and more generally) and research communication, are fit for purpose;

h) promote and monitor cross-disciplinary activities, including Institutes and Centres, ensuring that they support the research strategy effectively and deliver the highest quality outputs and impacts;

i) promote and monitor strategic links between the University and research funders, research users, and research partners, thereby maximising the impact of our research nationally and globally;

j) develop University responses to external consultations on research-related issues;

k) work with the Dean Postgraduate and Undergraduate Education, and Education committee, to develop strategy and practice for post-graduate research students, in particular promoting and winning Durham Doctoral Training Centres.